Crooner

Crooner - 10 year old Selle Francais gelding.  Crooner is a talented jumper from Canada, referred to us by WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.  He first came to us in April of 2004 and presented as a chronic, low grade 4 cornered lameness, 2/5 on the R-Hind, 1/5 on L-Hind, L-Front and R-Front.  

Our estimation of his lameness was, simple long-term mismanagement of the feet. 

One of the most important and simple diagnostic tools that many farriers ignore, is simply to watch a horse walk.  When Crooner was observed at a walk, he had a toe first landing.  It has been our experience that horses need a heel first landing in order to heal and/or stay sound.   Horses that present with a toe first landing are, if not already lame, on their way to presenting with sublte lamenesses and usually have top line issues as well. 

This may sound harsh, but good traditional farrier science led to the debilitation of this horse in continuing to shoe unrecognized distortion, while carving out the anterior sole.  This is a classic example of farriers focusing on and shoeing the toe.  Our focus has been on shoeing the back of the foot.  If the back of the foot can get healthy, and if the horse can achieve a heel first landing, most can improve. 

 We have had Crooner shod in Aluminum Natural Balance shoes with wedge pads, Double Nail pad systems, and Reverse shoes.  Where he was originally unable to achieve a heel first landing, his overall comfort level improved in all the above systems.  Real progress, however, was made in a simple Reverse shoe.  This shoe took the pull off of the toe and got his feet functioning with a healthy heel first landing.  We are constantly amazed at the positive effect of having the wall at the toe off the ground, and what that does for the overall health of the foot.  This is very consistent with Gene Ovnicek’s wild horses studies. 

After two shoeings in Reverse shoes, Crooner continues to be incredibly sound and continues to maintain a heel first landing. 

Another piece to this story is the retraining that has been initiated using Natural Horsemanship techniques, in attempting to free up his hind quarters.  Crooner had no lateral flextion in his body, and was stiff in his right hind.  By employing these horsemanship techniques, we have helped Crooner rediscover that he can move his hind quarters and his front quarters independently and this has also freed up his top line. 

Crooner has also benefited from regular Chiropractic/Acupuncture treatments from Dr. Mark DePaolo, DVM, Chiropractor/Acupuncturist, of Wilsonville, Oregon. 

Crooner has returned to the show circuit.